Pastoral letter to all priests, Sisters, consecrated men and women, laypeople, and all beloved believers.
On July 26, 2024, a dark day in the history of France and the West, where France abandons its faith, principles, and ethics. A deviant image deliberately mocks our Christian faith. Deviant and demeaning displays of ethics, gilded calves reminiscent of the people in the Old Testament when they abandoned God and worshiped the idol. It is regrettable how a person can turn into a similar monstrosity when they distance themselves from the source of beauty and truth. These dirty images only reflect the moral decay that the West has reached, challenging divine nature and aiming to lead the world to the abyss through Satanic actions. The hatred towards Christians and mocking their Christ, who appeared at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, the presumed capital of civilization and sophistication, marks a new decline in our human society.
We cannot help but condemn this vile act and dirty deception that violates all our sanctities in the name of freedom and freedom of expression, while also disrespecting the spirit of the Olympic Games, which were originally created for all peoples based on love, mutual respect, and brotherhood. The fly’s dirt does not muddy the water. Christ is our hope and our strength; may God have mercy on us and strengthen us in this strange and bizarre time.
Issued by the Apostolic Vicariate on July 29, 2024, the feast of Saint Martha.
Bishop Hanna Jallouf
Apostolic Vicar of the Latin Church in Syria.